2014 NFL Free Agency: 5 Reasons Why Jeremy Maclin Would Be a Great Fit in KC

2014 NFL Free Agency: 5 Reasons Why Jeremy Maclin Would Be a Great Fit in KC

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Michael Perez/Associated Press

After another year of struggling at the wide receiver position, it's time for the Kansas City Chiefs to address this issue head on during the offseason.

Eagles wideout Jeremy Maclin could really help out KC in this area, assuming that Philadelphia lets him walk when the free-agency period begins next month.

Landing the ex-Missouri Tiger could potentially make this unit a strength rather than a weakness for the Chiefs.

It just makes perfect sense for Maclin to come back to the state where he played his college ball and suit up for the red and white in 2014.

The Andy Reid Connection

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Mike Groll/Associated Press

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and Jeremy Maclin go back a few years.

Reid was with the Eagles when they selected Maclin as their first-round pick in the 2009 NFL draft.

Clearly, Reid saw the talent that Maclin displayed in college while at Missouri and wanted to use that in his offense.

Now, Reid is with the Chiefs and Maclin seems to be on his way out of Philadelphia, where the stud receiver has been for the last five years.

What better way for the two to reunite than in Kansas City, where Reid is in the process of building this Chiefs offense into something great.

Kansas City's West Coast Offense

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Reed Hoffmann/Associated Press

The West Coast offensive system that Reid and the Chiefs starting implementing last season fits a receiver like Jeremy Maclin very well.

One of Maclin's strengths is his speed in the open field, and this would be on display with the short and intermediate routes that are used in this system.

It also calls for occasional deep throws from QB Alex Smith, where Maclin could be used as a deep threat in those situations.

Overall, the Missouri native could be inserted into many different offensive systems and would likely play well due to his high level of talent, but I feel that the West Coast offense is the best style for him and his abilities.

Alex Smith

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Michael Conroy/Associated Press

This may seem like a pretty vague reason why Maclin would be a good fit in Kansas City, but let me explain.

Chiefs QB Alex Smith is a strong leader and has seen just about every high and every low that a quarterback could see during an NFL career.

Something else that makes him a great complement to Maclin is that Smith has not only been to the playoffs, but has also won playoff games as a starting signal-caller in this league.

The former first overall pick is also well-respected around the league and is a strong leader whose solid locker room presence would make the transition for Maclin into this offense a smooth one for the former All-American.

KC's Potent Rushing Attack

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Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

It's no secret that the Chiefs possess one of the best running back tandems in the NFL in Pro Bowler Jamaal Charles and second-year man Knile Davis.

Both are versatile backs and run with a nice blend of speed and power for KC's offense.

Having a stout running game like this is a dream come true for a talented receiver like Maclin.

It can make defenses put extra men in the box at the line of scrimmage, which would then likely leave Maclin with one-on-one coverage on the outside.

With teams already having to focus on Pro Bowl wideout Dwayne Bowe, Maclin should have many opportunities to shine in this offense.

A Receiver That Can Consistently Stretch the Field

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Michael Perez/Associated Press

This is something that the Chiefs offense has been lacking for years.

Currently, KC's two best receivers—Dwayne Bowe and Donnie Avery—are considered more as possession receivers at this point in their careers.

Maclin would finally give KC a guy that can stretch the field vertically and would instantly make this passing game more of a threat.

He showed this many times while playing for Missouri and with the Eagles, as defenses have to account for him at all times when he is on the field, since he is always a threat to take it to the house on any play.